Integrated interface device, and method of controlling integrated interface device

Abstract

In conventional technologies, a display area of a screen cannot be used efficiently since icons or the like which display the hierarchical positions are displayed in the shape of a cross on the screen, particularly, a content list is displayed in a single column despite that there are vacant areas in the four directions of an interface whereon the icons or the like are displayed in the shape of a cross and the vacant areas cannot be used efficiently. Provided is an integrated interface device for performing a hierarchical operation for specifying a desired content list. The interface device has a function to display a content list, a content specified by the content list, or the like by efficiently using a vacant area in a lower part of the display by displaying icons which display a hierarchical relationship, for example, “display in a row”, in an upper part of the screen, thereby clearing a large space in the lower part of the display.

1 . An integrated interface device, comprising:
 a storage for content list, storing a content list;   a storage for list information, storing list information including a linkage among a type of a media for acquiring content, a type of device for acquiring the content with respect to each type of media, and content list ID acquirable with respect to each type of device;   a hierarchical display unit, displaying an icon for type of media, an icon for type of device subsequent to the icon for type of media, and an icon for content list subsequent to the icon for type of device in a line based on the list information in accordance with each linkage;   a focus unit for focusing the respective icons;   a selection entry unit for entry of selection of the focused icon; and   an output unit for content list, outputting the content list having the linkage with the icon in accordance with the selection entry by the selection entry unit.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hierarchical display unit further comprises
 means for receiving graphic instruction, receiving a graphic instruction, and 
 means for displaying options in same hierarchy, displaying other icons in same hierarchy, such that the other icons are selectable, focusable and arranged perpendicular to the line of the icon for type of media, the icon for type of device, and the icon for content list so as to make L-shape or T-shape, with respect to each hierarchy by the graphic instruction for each icon 
   
     
     
         3 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the hierarchical display unit further comprises
 means for displaying along edge, displaying two lines of the L-shape or an upper line of the T-shape along edges or an edge of a display screen. 
   
     
     
         4 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the hierarchical display unit further comprises
 means for receiving selection entry of edge, receiving the entry of selection of the edge of the display screen, the edge is used for the display by the means for displaying along with edge. 
   
     
     
         5 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the focus unit further comprises
 means for direction key, including a direction-key for moving the focus. 
   
     
     
         6 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the focus unit further comprises
 means for direction key for content list, focusing a content identification indication included in the content list outputted from the output unit for content list, and moving the focus among the content identification indications, and utilizing same direction key as that of the means for direction key. 
   
     
     
         7 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the focus unit further comprises
 means for sorting key operation type, determining which unit executes the display of interface, the hierarchical display unit or the output unit for content list, 
 means for controlling move for focusing in hierarchical display, acquiring all or part of the list information from the storage for list information, and controlling the move for focusing based on the direction key operation, when the determination result by the means for determining key operation type indicates that the display is executed by the hierarchical display unit, and 
 means for controlling move for focusing in content list, acquiring all or part of the list information from the storage for list information, and controlling the move for focusing based on the direction key operation, when the determination result by the means for sorting key operation type indicates that the display is executed by the output unit for content list, 
   
     
     
         8 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the selection entry unit further comprises
 means for entry button, including an entry button. 
   
     
     
         9 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the selection entry unit further comprises
 means for sorting entry operation type, determining which unit executes the display of interface upon the entry operation for the entry button of the means for entry button, the hierarchical display unit or the output unit for content list, and 
 means for outputting control signal for content list, outputting a control signal for the output unit for content list such that the content list having the linkage with the focused icon in response to the entry operation, when the determination result by the means for determining entry operation type indicates that the display is executed by the hierarchical display unit. 
   
     
     
         10 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hierarchical display unit further comprises
 means for displaying navigation window frame, displaying a navigation window frame for the icon on a part of the display screen used for content reproduction, and 
 means for displaying icon within frame, displaying the icon within the navigation window frame. 
   
     
     
         11 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 10 , comprising:
 an activation unit, including an activation button for activating the means for displaying navigation window frame and the means for displaying icon within frame.   
     
     
         12 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the output unit for content list further comprises
 means for displaying content list frame, displaying a content list frame for the content list on a portion of the display screen used for the content reproduction excluding the navigation window frame. 
   
     
     
         13 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the activation unit further comprises
 means for toggling, functioning the activation button such that an active window for the operation of the direction key is selected through toggle selection when the navigation window frame and the content list frame are simultaneously displayed. 
   
     
     
         14 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the activation unit further comprises
 means for deleting, functioning the activation button to delete the navigation window frame and the icon within frame when the navigation window frame for the icon is displayed on the part of the display screen used for the content reproduction. 
   
     
     
         15 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the focus unit comprises
 means for storing last icon, storing the icon lastly focused, and 
 first default focusing means, focusing the icon stored by the means for storing last icon by default. 
   
     
     
         16 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the focus unit further comprises
 means for storing selection history information, storing selection history information of the icon as a target for the selection by the selection entry unit, and 
 second default focusing means, focusing the icon determined based on the stored selection history information by default. 
   
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling an integrated interface device, which includes a storage for content list storing a content list, the method causing a computer to execute the steps of:
 acquiring list information including a linkage between a type of a media for acquiring content, a type of a device for acquiring the content with respect to each type of media, and content list ID with respect to each type of device;   hierarchical displaying an icon for type of media, an icon for type of device subsequent to the icon for type of media, and an icon for content list subsequent to the icon for type of device in a line based on the list information in accordance with each linkage;   focusing the respective icons;   entry of selection of the focused icon; and   outputting the content list having the linkage with the icon in accordance with the selection entry by the selection entry unit.   
     
     
         18 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the focus unit further comprises
 means for direction key, including a direction-key for moving the focus. 
   
     
     
         19 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the focus unit further comprises
 means for direction key, including a direction-key for moving the focus. 
   
     
     
         20 . The integrated interface device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the focus unit further comprises
 means for direction key, including a direction-key for moving the focus.